Ruellia plant named &#39;R10--108&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘R10-108’ is a new  Ruellia  plant distinguished by having excellent landscape performance, and flowering, white flowers, and no fruiting, as disclosed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The U.S. government has certain rights in this invention, pursuant to TSTAR Grant No. 00093296 awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Ruellia simplex

Variety denomination: ‘R10-108’

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ruellia, botanically known as Ruellia simplex, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘R10-108.’

‘R10-108’ is a tetraploid individual obtained from manual hybridization conducted at UF in Gainesville, Fla. in September 2010, between 69-1 and RU64. 69-1 is a tetraploid breeding line, obtained as a vegetative propagule from RU63-69. RU63 is a tall, diploid white-flowering breeding line obtained in 2008 as an F₂ from the cross of diploid purple-flowering wild R. simplex and diploid dwarf variety ‘Katie White.’ RU63-69 is a tetraploid white-flowering individual obtained by treating the apical meristem of a seedling of RU63 with three applications (every 12 hours) of a 25 μM oryzalin solution in December 2008. RU64 is an F₂ tetraploid white-flowering individual obtained from a cross between ‘Snow White’ and RUE1-1 (a purple-flowering tetraploid South American accession of R. simplex.

‘R10-108’ has been reproduced asexually for over one year through vegetative cuttings and has been shown to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations. The first asexual propagation of ‘R10-102’ was done by tip cuttings at the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Research Greenhouses, Gainesville, Fla. 32611 on April 2011.

‘R10-108’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘R10-108’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Northwestern, North Central, and Southeastern Florida, USA:

1. Excellent growth in both full sun and partial shade environments.

2. Prolific flowering throughout the flowering season.

3. Large white flowers.

4. No fruit production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the form and foliage of the new Ruellia variety. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. Shows a plot of three plants of ‘R10-108’ taken on Aug. 29, 2011. The photograph was taken of 21-week-old plants grown in ground beds with drip irrigation at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra, Fla. (North Central Florida, 29.4° N, 82.2° W, AHS heat zone 10).

FIG. 2. Shows a close-up view of flowers of ‘R10-108’ on an 8-week-old greenhouse plant, taken on May 8, 2012.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘R10-108.’ The detailed description was taken on May 8, 2012, 8 weeks after vegetative propagation from greenhouse-grown stock plants. Measurements are the mean values from 3 individual clones propagated on Mar. 12, 2012 and greenhouse-grown in 6″ Azalea pots using Fafard 2P mix (Concord Fafard Inc., Agawam, Mass.; 60% Canadian peat moss, 40% perlite) and fertigation at 150 ppm N.

Color references are to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition.

-   Phenotypic description of Ruellia simplex (variety ‘R10-108’) -   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Acanthaceae.         -   Botanical.—Ruellia simplex hybrid.         -   Common name.—Ruellia, Mexican Petunia.         -   Variety name.—‘R10-108’.         -   Plant description.—Form: Erect Habit: Clumping Height (from             top of soil): 62.7 cm Width (horizontal plant diameter):             60.0 cm. -   Propagation: Type cuttings: Vegetative meristems having at least 2     nodes Time to initiate roots: 4 to 6 days Time to produce a rooted     cutting: 7 to 10 days Root habit: Adventitious (fibrous) Root     description: Callus forms in 3 to 4 days; roots initiate in 5 to 8     days and become a highly branched cutting in 14 to 21 days. -   Branches: Quantity per plant: 5 to 7 per plant (with no pinching)     Branch color: RHS 143A (Green) Texture: Smooth Pubescence: Slightly     tomentose, especially at nodes Stem description: Round to square     shaped stem, 4.9 cm in diameter at the soil line Branch diameter:     2.6 cm at the base of a 30 cm long branch Branch length: 30 cm     Internode length: 9.3 cm Anthocyanin: N/A. -   Leaves: Quantity of leaves per branch: 8 to 10 Arrangement:     Decussate (opposite pairs) Fragrance: N/A Shape: Lanceolate to     elliptic Length: 23.8 cm Width: 3.8 cm Apex: Narrowly Acute Base:     Attenuate Margin: Entire Leaf texture (both surfaces): Slightly     coriaceous Pubescence color (both surfaces): N/A.     -   -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Green) Lower             surface: RHS 137C (Green).         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, mature and immature leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 139A             (Green) Lower surface: RHS 137C (Green).         -   Petiole length.—1.8 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 143A (Green). -   Flowers and seeds:     -   -   Flower (if present).—Arrangement: Axillary in solitary or             several-flowered cyme Aspect: Actinomorphic corolla with 5             rounded petals; funnel form Flowering habit (length of             flowering season): May to October (N. FL) Number of             inflorescences per plant: 10-12 cymes with 40-65             flowers+buds total Fragrance: Very mild and slightly sweet             Lastingness of individual bloom: 1 day Rate of opening:             Daily Flower Bud: Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.0 cm Diameter:             1.2 cm Color: RHS 143A (Green) Texture: Glandular with             trichomes Corolla: Arrangement: Actinomorphic salverform             (funnel form) Length: 6.5 to 7.5 cm Diameter: 5.4 to 6.7 cm             Color: Upper surface: RHS 155C (White) Lower surface: RHS             155C (White) Throat: RHS 155C (White) Banner: Not present             Margin: Texture (both surfaces): Undulated Color: Upper             surface: RHS 155C (White) Lower surface: RHS 155C (White)             Keel: Not present Calyx: Number of sepals per flower: 5             Length: 2.0 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Apex: Narrowly Acute Base:             Fused Texture (both surfaces): Smooth to glandular (see             below) Pubescence (present or absent): Present (Glandular             trichomes) Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS 143A (Green)             Lower surface: RHS 143A (Green) Pedicels: Angle: 15-25°             Length: 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.7 cm Texture: Smooth to glandular             Color: RHS 143A (Green) Reproductive organs: Stamens:             Present Number: 4 anthers with stamens fused at base to             corolla Filament: 4 (fused) Color: RHS 155D (White) Length:             2 at 2.0 cm, and 2 at 1.3 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Anther color:             N/A Pollen amount: Moderate (not viable) Pollen color: RHS             155D (White) Pistils: Number/flower: 1 Pistil length: 3.2 cm             Stigma: Present Color: RHS 155D (White) Shape: Bilabial and             slightly recurved Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Style:             Color: RHS 155D (White) Length: 3 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Ovary:             Hypogenous Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 143A (Green). -   Fruit/Seed set: None observed -   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is     typical of the species. -   Comparison with parental lines and known variety Compared to the     female parent 69-1, ‘R10-108’ has a more compact and full growth     habit, less-rounded leaves, and no fruiting. Compared to the male     parent RU64, ‘R10-108’ has a more compact and full growth habit,     more elliptical leaves, and no fruiting. Compared to Ruellia simplex     ‘Snow White’ in North, Central, and Southeastern FL, ‘R10-108’ has     an average width of 84 cm, as compared to 67 cm in ‘Snow White.’ The     average corolla diameter of ‘R10-108’ ranges from 5.5 to 6.7 cm,     compared to 5.2 to 6 cm in ‘Snow White.’ The average landscape     performance rating values (evaluated monthly from weeks 0 to 24 at     three sites, based on 27 plants) were 4.4 and 3.1 for ‘R10-108’ and     ‘Snow White,’ respectively, where landscape performance was rated on     a scale from 1-5, with 1 being very poor quality, not acceptable,     severe leaf necrosis or chlorosis, and poor form; 2 being poor     quality, not acceptable, large areas of necrosis or chlorosis, and     poor form; 3 being acceptable quality, and somewhat desirable form     and color; 4 being very good quality, very acceptable, and desirable     color and form; and 5 being excellent quality, perfect condition,     and premium color and form. The average flowering rating values     (evaluated monthly from weeks 0 to 24 at three sites, based on 27     plants) were 4 and 2.9 for ‘R10-108’ and ‘Snow White,’ respectively,     where flowering was rated on a scale from 1-5, with 1 being no     flowers or buds; 2 being buds but no open flowers; 3 being 1-10 open     flowers; 4=11-20 open flowers; and 5 being more than 20 open flowers     per plant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ruellia plant as shown and described herein. 